the woods.
My cock is hard. Because I’m twisted. Because just the thought of overpowering her is like a shot of adrenaline through my system. I’ve never wanted a woman so badly in my life, and I don’t even know who she is. But a man like me doesn’t let go. Not when he gets on a scent as interesting as this one. She’s my quarry, and I intend to track her down and have another chat, preferably one where she’s bent over and moaning while I ram my cock deep inside her. Maybe it’ll end with one of us dead, but I suspect it’ll be worth it.
I blow out the puff of smoke. “The good news is, you’re still out there, darlin’. The bad news is, I’m coming for you.”
6
Evelyn
“I thought you wanted to remain silent in this?” My lawyer, Linton Graves, brushes nonexistent lint from his impeccable dark gray suit.
“I’ve changed my mind.” I smooth my blonde hair back and straighten my skirt. “The impediment I mentioned before is gone, so I can have an active role from this point forward.”
“Are you certain that’s what you want?” He peers down his too-sharp nose at me. “The Vinemonts are not too happy with your hostile takeover, and they aren’t particularly kind to their enemies.”
“I can handle them.” The two that are left.
“Plenty have said that, and plenty have been incorrect. Sinclair, the eldest, is an arrogant, condescending brute. But Lucius, the next in line, is particularly nasty.”
“And the third?” I already know the particulars of each brother, but it’s interesting to watch Linton try to school me.
“Teddy?” He waves a manicured hand. “He has no real involvement in the family business since he’s in his residency, but he will back his brothers fiercely and defend his one-third interest in Magnolia Sugar. Don’t fall for his charm, Ms. Delacroix. He’s still a Vinemont and will cut the legs out from under you if given half a chance.”
“Then let’s not give them the chance.” I throw my shoulders back and hope he doesn’t notice the dark circles under my eyes. Sleep never came last night, and I couldn’t stop thinking about the surprised yet bemused look on Lucius’s face when I took his life.
I thought I’d slumber more deeply than I ever had, but instead I tossed and turned. Something niggled at me, a worrisome sense of guilt that was utterly out of place. I shouldn’t feel sorry for Lucius, not after what he’s done. For all I know, it was him or me at that point. He had a gun, and he came after me. I did what I had to do. No, I chided myself; I did what I planned to do all along. Everything had gone according to my plan, even if it was a little early. I am in control.
“Everything all right?” Linton is peering at me a little too closely.
“Fine.” I grab the door handle and turn it, entering the main area of the high-priced law firm. My heels clack along the polished marble floor as I stride to the largest conference room—the neutral space where I intend to convince the board of Magnolia Sugar to accept my purchase offer. Morning sun shines into the skyscraper via the floor-to-ceiling windows, and every bit of décor screams wealth. This is where the rich come to do business.
“Allow me.” Linton cuts in front of me and pulls open the glass door to the conference room.
I stride in and analyze the space, the long marble table, the leather chairs, the neat set of portfolios laid out for each board member. This is the show, and I’m the one calling the shots. It’s almost laughable, especially considering I was groomed to be a rich man’s bride, a silent accessory, a trophy to be dusted off only when it was time to make the children and further his line. Instead of that nightmare, fate—or more accurately, the Vinemonts—dealt me an entirely different path, one fraught with thorns and pain, but which eventually led to the light. To freedom. And now here I stand, about to take my enemy’s empire from them and crush it in my grasp.
“If you’re ready, I’ll get the board.” Linton straightens the documents in front of my seat, squaring them perfectly with the edge of the table. His precision is one of the reasons I hired him. “They’re having coffee and scones in the breakfast room. Probably done by now.”
I run my hands along the marble tabletop. “I’m